Pala Alpitour

The Pala Alpitour (originally Palasport Olimpico, shortened to PalaOlimpico), also known as PalaIsozaki after its architect, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the Santa Rita district of Turin, Italy. It is a few metres east of the Olympic Stadium. The arena has a seating capacity of 12,350 when it is configured for ice hockey, and it is the largest indoor sporting arena in Italy. The arena was originally built at a cost of €87 million, for the 2006 Winter Olympics, and along with the Torino Esposizioni, it hosted the ice hockey events.[3]

Pala Alpitour
Former namesPalaOlimpico (2005–2014)
LocationCorso Sebastopoli 123, Turin, Italy
Coordinates45°02′30″N 7°39′08″E
OwnerCity of Turin
Capacity14,350 (ice hockey)
16,600 (basketball)
15,800 (volleyball)[1]
15,657 (center stage)
13,347 (end stage)[2]
Construction
OpenedDecember 13, 2005
Construction cost$111 million
ArchitectArata Isozaki, Pier Paolo Maggiora, Marco Brizio

Since its opening, the Pala Alpitour has become one of Italy's most booked venues for large-scale concerts. It is also the largest capacity venue in Italy for these type of events, with the allowed maximum capacities set at 15,657 for general admission center-stage concerts, and 13,347 maximum capacity for general admission end-stage concerts.[2] On 8 August 2014, the arena was renamed to Pala Alpitour.

Construction
Inside view of the arena during the 2006 Winter Olympics

The design of the building was the subject of an international competition, which was won by a team led by architect Arata Isozaki of Tokyo. The design study was composed by Archa S.P.A. Turin, Italy Arup s.r.l. Milan, Ing. Joseph Amaro, Arch. Marco Brizio. The venue was designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and the Italian architect Pier Paolo Maggiora, and it is a part of the larger sports complex that is known as the Central Compartment of Olympic stadiums, and also includes the Swimming Hall and park parade ground.

The futuristic building's exterior has a strict rectangular Cartesian coated stainless steel and glass structure, with a base of 183 by 100 metres. It is spread over four levels, of which two are underground (up to 7.5 metres below ground) and two outdoors (up to 12 metres high). The overall length of the structure is about 200 metres.

The structure, designed to be a veritable factory of events, using the words of its architect. The arena is completely flexible and adaptable in its internal structure, and with the arrangement of the stands. Due to a modern system of movable and retractable bleachers, and also the option of a temporary movable deck. The structure's acoustics are also adaptable.

The arena is a kind of magic box, and was actually designed to host many different types of events post the 2006 Winter Olympics. The arena can host events such as ice hockey, athletics, and various other indoor sports, as well as indoor concerts, conventions, exhibitions, events, parades, shows, religious gatherings, etc. Its maximum capacity is 18,500 seats, when in concert mode.

Events hosted
Inside view of the arena during the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament

It opened in 2005 and has seats for 12,350 spectators. It also has a practice rink. It served as one of the venues hosting the ice hockey events at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the finals.

In basketball, the Pala Alpitour hosted the 2008–09 EuroCup Basketball final stage, and the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Palasport was due to host the 2010-11 season's Final Four of the EuroLeague, as announced on February 16, 2010,[1] but the event was later moved to the Palau Sant Jordi, in Barcelona. It was one of the three main venues of the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men, which was held in Italy, the Philippines, and Serbia on July 4–10, 2016.[4][5]

The mixed martial arts events Bellator 152 and Bellator 176 were held at Pala Alpitour. The third and final round of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship were also held at the venue.

Pala Alpitour has become one of the main venue for music events in Italy. Artists such as Bob Dylan, Madonna, Rihanna, U2, Florence and the Machine, 5 Seconds of Summer, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Shakira, Renato Zero, Tiziano Ferro, Il Volo, Elisa and Marco Mengoni have performed in the arena.

In 2007, the venue hosted the opening ceremony of the XXIII Winter Universiade.

From 2021 to 2025, the Pala Alpitour will host the tennis ATP Finals, marking the first time in history in which Italy will host the tournament.[6]

On 8 October 2021, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Italian broadcaster RAI announced that the venue will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, following Italy's victory at the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands with the song "Zitti e buoni", performed by Måneskin. The semi-finals of the contest will take place on 10 and 12 May 2022 and the final will take place on 14 May 2022. It will be the first time that Turin hosts the contest and the third time that Italy has hosted the contest overall, with last being in Rome in 1991.[7]

See also

References
  1. Euroleague Final Four bound for Turin, Italy in 2011!
  2. Pala Alpitour is Italy's largest arena (article in Italian)
  3. 2006 Winter Olympics official report. Archived 2012-09-07 at the Wayback Machine Volume 3. pp. 74-5.
  4. "Italy, Philippines and Serbia to host Olympic Qualifying Tournaments; France to stage Women's Tournament". FIBA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  5. "Preolimpico in Italia, è pronta Torinos". Corriere dello Sport. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  6. "Turin To Host ATP Finals From 2021 To 2025 | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  7. "Turin, Italy, to host the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2022 🇮🇹". Eurovision.tv. 8 October 2021.

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